“Help” Is a Gift
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever” – John 14:16
Dear Friends,
“Help!”
I’m sorry for beginning the message with a four-letter word, but it just had to be done. And let’s be honest “help” can indeed, feel like something we don’t say in polite company. Even when we’re going through something, our normal response is “good” or “fine” when asked how we’re doing, even when we’re most certainly not.
Yet… asking for help is as much of a gift to someone else as it is to you. Case in point:
Yesterday, I got a text, out of the blue, from a member who said, “Let’s do this lunch thing!” Then last night, a query from a former coaching partner about our experience with CM Middle School soccer, as his oldest is considering going out for the team, and all 3 of ours went through it, also navigating coaching and playing rec soccer too. And then this morning, a friend of twenty years reached out, asking for prayer.
In each of these situations, I was given a gift.
The gift of sitting down over a meal and connecting with someone. The gift of sharing past experiences that inform someone else. The gift of connecting with God on behalf of a friend. And whatever I did for each of them, I can see that more was done for me. I come away encouraged because of the connection, that people reached out to me, that they offer me themselves and an opportunity to deepen our relationship, and point me to God… and model humility…
I responded to my friend too, asking him to pray for me too… because as fun as the last 10 days have been… I don’t think I realized how tired I was. Throw in the stuff with our house and navigating our kids and upcoming camps… and wow.
It also leads me to this – Thank You! Because I don’t do this pastoring thing, without the love and support and prayers of a community and congregation like you. For you who ask how I’m doing, for you who smile and offer appreciation, for you who pray and tell me you’re praying for me and my family, I’m deeply grateful and inspired. Thank you – and I hope that in doing so, you experience the gift that flows back to you as well!
Welcoming You to Grow in Jesus – with every ask for help, and every offer of help,
Pastor Don